Fowl singeing system utilizing oscillating flames

ABSTRACT

The specification discloses a system for singeing fowl transported by a shackle system. A housing is disposed in the path of travel of the shackle system and elongated pipes are horizontally disposed on opposite sides of the housing and positioned adjacent the middle region of the fowl transported through the housing. The pipes are connectable to a supply of gas and include gas nozzles spaced along the length of the pipes, whereby flames are emitted from the nozzles when the gas emanating therefrom is ignited. A motor rotates an eccentric crank mechanism to oscillate the pipes about predetermined arcs to direct singeing flames over substantially the entire bodies of the fowl being transported therepast. A shaking mechanism is disposed forward of the housing for shaking water from the fowl prior to singeing of the fowl.

United States Patent [191 Snowden 51 Feb. 13, 1973 [54] FOWL SINGEING SYSTEM UTILIZING Primary Examiner-Lucie H. Laudenslager AztorneyRichards, Harris & Hubbard CONTROL BOX 5 7 ABSTRACT The specification discloses a transported by a shackle system. A housing is disposed in the path of travel of the shackle system and elongated pipes are horizontally disposed on opposite sides of the housing and positioned adjacent the middle region of the fowl transported through the housing. The pipes are connectable to a supply of gas and include gas nozzles spaced along the length of the pipes, whereby flames are emitted from. the nozzles when the gas emanating therefrom is ignited. A motor rotates an eccentric crank mechanism to oscillate the pipes about predetermined arcs to direct singeing flames over substantially the entire bodies of the-fowl being transported therepast. A shaking mechanism is disposed forward of the housing for shaking water from the fowl prior to singeing of the fowl.

7 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEDFEB13 1975 3.715779 CONTROL BOX FIG. I

FIG. 2

l4 l6 70 5O INVENTOR.

6.3.." BRYAN 17 szvowom 2O r 3 ATTORNEYS FOWL SINGEING SYSTEM UTILIZING OSCILLATING FLAMES FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to fowl processing, and more particularly to the use of oscillating flames to singe fowl being carried by a shackle transport system.

TI-IE PRIOR ART In the processing of fowl such as chickens, turkeys and the like, the fowl are conventionally hung by the feet from a shackle system and transported through subsequent scalding, picking and pinner stations. After pinning, undesirable hair and feather remnants generally remain on the fowl carcasses, and it has thus been conventional to singe the fowl by applying a gas flame thereto in an effort to remove the undesirable hair and feather remnants. In fowl singeing systems heretofore developed, problems have sometimes arisen due to uneven application of flame to the body of the fowl, as the flame nozzles have often been rigidly attached to a frame. Additionally, excessive water on the body of the fowl has often prevented adequate singemg.

. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, a uniform singeing action is provided. to fowl by the use of a pair of gas nozzle sets disposedon opposite sides of the path of travel of the fowl. The nozzle sets are oscillated over predetermined areas such that flames emanating from the nozzles cover substantially the entire area of the fowl being transported therepast. A shaking mechanism is mounted forward of the nozzle sets in order to remove water from the fowl prior to singeing.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a system is provided for singeing fowl transported by a shackle system which includes a housing which is disposed in the path of travel of the shackle system. Elongated pipes are horizontally disposed on opposite sides of the housing and are positioned adjacent the middle region of the fowl transported therepast. The pipes are connected to a supply of gas and include gas nozzles spaced along the pipes for emission of flames when the gas emanating from the nozzles is ignited. Structure is provided to oscillate the pipes about predetermined arcs to direct the flames over substantially the entire bodies of the fowl being transported therepast.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a more complete understanding of the present invention and for further objects and advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fowl singeing system according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the system shown in FIG. 1 with a fowl being transported therethrough; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view, partially broken away, taken along section lines 3-3 in FIG. 1.

THE DRAWINGS Referring to FIG. 1, an overhead conveyor 10 is illustrated and extends through a fowl shaking station 11 and a fowl singeing system designated generally by the numeral 12. The overhead conveyor 10 is of conven tional design and supports a plurality of shackles, not shown, from which fowl depend in the conventional manner. The housing 12 comprises generally rectangular end frameworks l4 and 16 which are joined by side shield walls 18 and 20. Fowl transported by the overhead conveyor 10 are transported through the housing after having been passed through respective scalding, picking and pinning stations in the conventional manner.

A pair of elongated pipes 22 and 24 are horizontally disposed along the interior sides of the shield walls 18 and 20. As best shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of gas jet nozzles 26 are spaced along each of the pipes 22 and 24. Gas is supplied to the pipes 22 and 24 via an inlet pipe 30 from a suitable pressurized supply of gas. A line 32 supplies gas to the pilot light 34 (FIG. 2). A valve 36 is operable by a solenoid 38 in order to allow remote and automatic operation of the sensing system.

Gas is supplied via a T-member 40 through pipes 42 and 44. Pipe 42 is connected to pipe 22 through a rotary unit, not shown, while pipe 44 is connected to pipe 24 through a rotary unit 50. When valve 36 is open, pressurized gas is supplied to each of the pipes 22 and 24 and emanates outwardly from the jet nozzles 26. When nozzles 26 are ignited from the pilot 34, flames emanate from the nozzles as best shown in FIG. 2.

As shown in FIG. 3, counterweight bars 52 are connected parallel to each of the pipes 22 and 24 by suitable rigid connecting bars. For instance, the counterweight bars 52 may comprise pipe filled with lead or other suitable weight material. The assembly comprising the gas jet pipe 22 and the counterweight bar 52 are mounted on shafts extending through bearings 54 in the frames 14 and 16 to allow the assembly to be rotated.

A motor 60 is mounted on the frame 14 and includes a crank shaft 62 which is rotated by the motor 60. A pair of bars 64 and 66 are connected at the upper ends to the crankshaft 62 such that the bars 64 and 66 are provided with an oscillating vertical movement upon operation of the motor 60. The lower end of bar 64 is connected to an extension member 68 connected to the pipe 22. The bar 66 is connected at the lower end to an extension member 70 which is connected to the shaft of the assembly including pipe 24 and counterweight 52, as shown best in FIG. 3. Upon operation of the motor 60, the pipes 22 and 24 are thus oscillated about a selected are in order to direct flames upon substantially the entire body of the fowl being transported therepast.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the shaking station 11 includes a plurality of drums 80, which are rotatably mounted on supports 82 depending from the conveyor 10 or from the plant roof. Each drum includes a plurality of flexible fingers 84 extending therefrom. Fingers 84 may comprise, for example, rubber extensions similar to conventional fowl-picking fingers.

Each drum 80 is rotated by a motor 86 such that the fingers 84 strike the area between the hock and foot of each fowl transported thereby. In operation, the fingers 84 create violent shaking of the fowl to shake water from the fowl. The skin of the fowl is normally relatively oily, so the water on the fowl is generally beaded and is thus easily shaken from the fowl. By striking the upper feet of the fowl, substantial shaking of the fowl is induced to thereby fling the water off the fowl. The fowl thus enter the singeing station 12 without being heavily coated with moisture.

A motion sensor 90 is mounted on the conveyor and generates a signal indication when shackles 71 cease moving along the conveyor 10. The output of sensor 90 controls the operation of an on-off control box 92. Box 92 controls the state of operation of the solenoid 38.

The motion sensor 90 may comprise, for instance, a mechanical switch which opens when the shackles cease moving. Upon opening of the switch 90, the control box 92 deenergizes the solenoid 38 to close valve 36 to stop the flow of gas. Hence, the fowl within the singeing housing will not be burned in case of conveyor stoppage.

The operation of the singeing system is best shown in FIG. 2, wherein a fowl F is illustrated as being carried through the housing 12 by a conventional shackle 71. The pipes 22 and 24 are mounted generally in the region of the middle of the fowl and are rotated by the operation of the motor 60 to oscillate, or swing back and forth, over substantially the entire body of the fowl from the hock portion to the neck portion. Normally, guide bars, not shown, are provided to maintain the shackle 71 in a position such that the fowl F is maintained in the predesired orientation shown while passing through the housing. In the preferred embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the pipes 22 and 24 are oscillated out of phase with one another, such that the pipe 22 is directing flame upon the neck portion of the fowl F while the pipe 24 is directing flame upon the hook portion of the fowl. This provides excellent singeing of the fowl, without overheating of the body of the fowl. In the preferred embodiment, the pipes 22 and 24 are oscillated about the selected arc in the range of from 10-60 cpm, and preferably at about 30 cpm.

Whereas the present invention has been described with respect to specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various changes and modifications will be suggested to one skilled in the art, and it is intended to encompass such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A singeing system for fowl comprising:

means for shaking moisture from the fowl prior to singeing thereof,

two sets of gas nozzles disposed on opposite sides of the path of travel of fowl being transported by a shackle system, and

means for oscillating said nozzle sets over a predetermined area such that flames emanating from said nozzles cover substantially the entire area of the fowl being transported therepast.

2. A system for singeing fowl transported by a shackle system comprising:

a housing for being disposed in the path of travel of the shackle system,

elongated pipes generally horizontally disposed on opposite sides of said housing and positioned adjacent the middle region of fowl transported therepast, said pipes being connectable to a supply ga n zizles being spaced along said pipes for emission of flames when the gas emanating therefrom is ignited, and

means for oscillating said pipes about predetermined arcs to direct flames over substantially the entire bodies of the fowl being transported therepast.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said oscillating means comprises:

a motor, and

linkage connected between said motor and said pipes for oscillating said pipes when said motor is energized.

4. The system of claim 2 and further including:

elongated counterweights connected in parallel with said pipes, said counterweights being disposed outside of said housing and said pipes being disposed inside said housing.

5. The system of claim 2 and further comprising:

means for oscillating said pipes out of phase with one another.

6. The system of claim 2 and further comprising:

means for shaking fowl prior to entry into said hous- 7. The system of claim 6 wherein said shaking means comprises:

flexible fingers for striking the leg portions of the fowl to shake moisture therefrom. 

1. A singeing system for fowl comprising: means for shaking moisture from the fowl prior to singeing thereof, two sets of gas nozzles disposed on opposite sides of the path of travel of fowl being transported by a shackle system, and means for oscillating said nozzle sets over a predetermined area such that flames emanating from said nozzles cover substantially the entire area of the fowl being transported therepast.
 1. A singeing system for fowl comprising: means for shaking moisture from the fowl prior to singeing thereof, two sets of gas nozzles disposed on opposite sides of the path of travel of fowl being transported by a shackle system, and means for oscillating said nozzle sets over a predetermined area such that flames emanating from said nozzles cover substantially the entire area of the fowl being transported therepast.
 2. A system for singeing fowl transported by a shackle system comprising: a housing for being disposed in the path of travel of the shackle system, elongated pipes generally horizontally disposed on opposite sides of said housing and positioned adjacent the middle region of fowl transported therepast, said pipes being connectable to a supply of gas, gas nozzles being spaced along said pipes for emission of flames when the gas emanating therefrom is ignited, and means for oscillating said pipes about predetermined arcs to direct flames over substantially the entire bodies of the fowl being transported therepast.
 3. The system of claim 2 wherein said oscillating means comprises: a motor, and linkage connected between said motor and said pipes for oscillating said pipes when said motor is energized.
 4. The system of claim 2 and further including: elongated counterweights connected in parallel with said pipes, said counterweights being disposed outside of said housing and said pipes being disposed inside said housing.
 5. The system of claim 2 and further comprising: means for oscillating said pipes out of phase with one another.
 6. The system of claim 2 and further comprising: means for shaking fowl prior to entry into said housing. 